One of the best things about being a Hasher in Chiang Mai is that there is no shortage of nature. A lot of the time we are technically trespassing when we do these runs, but since we are respectful and for the most part quiet, people don't really seem to mind. There have only been two instances in the past 3 years where owners of property got upset about us being on their land and really, those guys were basically just being assholes since we weren't doing anything to disturb any plants, fences, or anything at all really. I suppose the worst we did was get some dogs all worked up.
It's their property so if someone tells us to fuck off we don't ever return to that site. A vast majority of the time the people don't mind but are more intrigued about why all of a sudden there are 30 or so oddly-dressed mostly foreigners running out of the jungle.
You don't really have to get terribly far away from the busy city center in order to have access to amazing nature and that is one of the really unique aspects of Chiang Mai. It really doesn't matter which direction you head in, if you go 15 km or so in any direction, there are pathways and jungles that for the most part are uninhabited.
Most of the time we end up with at least some semblance of a footpath and while I am only guessing, I am thinking that these are motorbike access routes for the farmers to get to their rubber or palm crops. Other places these trails exist because it is an unofficial national park of sorts where people go for nature walks.
No matter the reason though, it is really nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and become one with the silence of nature even if it is just for a few hours. Some sites are better than others, but every now and then someone does some fantastic recon work and finds a new site that none of us have actually been to before and that was the case this past week. It's a real joy because you know that even the veterans like myself are confused at every turn as to where we are supposed to go next and no one can really cheat their way back to the start either.
Lately, we have had a pretty solid crew of people turning up for our thrice weekly events and if you are in the Chiang Mai area either as a resident or just a visitor, we welcome you to come and join us. It's just a bit of exercise followed by some funny banter and beer and honestly, who doesn't like that?
You can find full details at our official website
Your very lucky to have so much nature around in all directions, where I used to live nature surrounded us and I loved it, but these days it was all built over, I do wish people would stop building so much everywhere and leave nature be.
yes buddy. I count my blessings every time we get out in nature. Chiang Mai is a truly wonderful place since while the city is huge and very populated, if you get outside of town just a little bit it becomes quiet countryside.
I think what you have is very unique to have forests and the natural parks on your doorstep. I am sure many other HHH groups are envious of what you have.
they definitely are. The people that come form major metro areas are very envious. We have people who visit from places like LA, Chicago, NYC, London etc and they never have nature runs. All of theirs are urban. Those are still fun but you know, running on cement is kind of boring.
This is such a relaxing way to do it. Destressing and staying away from the hustle for a bit is very healthy for the mind, body, and spirit of an individual. We should fo it more often!
this is why we do it 3 times a week at least! WE call it "recharging the batteries"
thailand, really a wonderful places blessed with everything. Glad you come here sir.
This looks like so much fun, funny I was having nature hiking fantasies last week as my wife and I passed a place along the highway with fertile land, beautiful mountains, and a nice looking scattered settlement. It seemed as though the geography would make real estate affordable there, and then we saw the all too stereotypical landmine warning signs all along the side of the road. I never venture off a well-defined trail here in Cambodia, but surely there is some kind of a hashing scene in Phnom Penh. Do you know of anything?
we used to have regular visitors from the Phnom Penh club but not in the past 2 years. They describe the difficulty they experience because of the landmine thing as well. I hadn't really thought about that in a while but the fear of getting blown up would probably put a real damper on our runs, that's for sure.
⋆ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇ ғᴏʀ sᴏᴜᴛʜᴇᴀsᴛ ᴀsɪᴀɴ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴇɴᴛ ᴏɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ
⋆ sᴜʙsᴄʀɪʙᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴇᴀɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ
⋆ ғᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀsᴇᴀɴ ʜɪᴠᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴠᴏᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʀᴀɪʟ
⋆ ᴅᴇʟᴇɢᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ʟɪɴᴋs 25 ʜᴘ⇾50 ʜᴘ⇾100 ʜᴘ⇾500 ʜᴘ⇾1,000 ʜᴘ